Former Test captain Kim Hughes believes talk of a Clarke-Watson rift is overstated, but says the skipper can do without the headaches of selection politics that can make-or-break Test careers.

"In an ideal world, it is best not to have the captain and coach as a selector. Going forward, I think it would help Michael Clarke immensely if he gave it away and focused on his job," said Hughes, who had strained relations with Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh during his tenure as Australian captain between 1979-84.

"When you are winning and the side is going well, there's no dramas. But if you are under the pump as a side and you're not playing well, it (having a captain as selector) brings on extra issues.

"I found it really difficult to be brutal as a selector. I look back now and if I had my time again I would have been more clinical. But with my personality, I tried to sugarcoat things, keep blokes happy ... and it usually bit me on the ass."

Former Test quick Len Pascoe added: "You only have to trace the comments from Clarke and Mickey Arthur (coach) in recent weeks about Watson. That can't help the situation. Leave the selection and analysis to independent selectors. Right now, Shane Watson would be getting mixed messages."

Clarke was handed selection responsibility as part of the sweeping Argus review, tabled in August 2011, which recommended the national panel comprise a full-time chairman, two part-time selectors, plus the coach and captain.

But the move leaves Clarke vulnerable to strained relations with his colleagues, most critically Watson and his predecessor Ricky Ponting, who is fighting to save his career after another failure in the first innings of the second Test.

Clarke must win the trust of his troops and engender spirit within the inner-sanctum as he presides over the rebuilding of the Australian cricket team.

But he is also being asked to provide selection-room assessments that can terminate a player's career.

Former Test skipper Steve Waugh experienced the conundrum facing Clarke when he was forced to axe struggling opener Michael Slater during the 2001 Ashes tour to England. A gutted Waugh later felt like he had Slater's blood on his hands and the pair never fully regained their friendship.

Clarke has already endured a similar experience.

Last year, former Test opener Simon Katich savaged Clarke, accusing him of playing a role in his sacking from the Australian side after the pair's infamous dressing-room spat at the SCG in 2009.

"It's a better process not to have the captain involved," said former Test selector John Benaud.

"It has the potential to create too many problems.

"Captains can say there's no problems with mateship ... but the bottom line is when the captain is officially part of the (selection) process, it does leave the situation open to creating unnecessary tension."

FAMILY FEUDS

KATICH/CLARKE

Katich grabbed Clarke by the throat after a Test against South Africa at the SCG in 2009. When Clarke became captain, Katich claimed he would never be picked for Australia again. He hasn’t.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

MARTYN-HAYDEN

England’s James Anderson revealed the bust-up during the 2006-07 Ashes series. Anderson says Hayden called Martyn “the biggest wanker on the planet’’. Martyn retired two days later.

HUGHES-LILLEE

Hughes struggled to win over senior figures Lillee and Marsh. Lillee would even bowl bouncers at him in the nets. After a loss to the West Indies in 1984, Hughes broke down as he announced his resignation as captain.

CLARKE-SYMONDS

The first cracks appeared in 2008 when Clarke was part of the leadership group that sent Symonds home for going fishing during a training camp in Darwin. Symonds was also accused of throwing a glass at Clarke during a disagreement on a West Indies tour.

WARNE-STEVE WAUGH

Two of Australia’s greatest players fell out when Waugh dropped the leg-spinner for the final Test against the West Indies in the Caribbean in 1999.

News.com.au's Privacy Policy includes important information about our collection, use and disclosure of your personal information (including to provide you with targeted content and advertising based on your online activities). It explains that if you do not provide us with information we have requested from you, we may not be able to provide you with the goods and services you require. It also explains how you can access or seek correction of your personal information, how you can complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles and how we will deal with a complaint of that nature.

A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites.